130 trees axed to make way for multi-level parking project

The municipal corporation (MC) of Chandigarh on Sunday axed nearly 130 trees at the existing Gurdev parking lot for the upcoming multi-level parking project in Sector 17. The MC had approved the project in March last year.

The project, which was hanging fire for the past one year, got the approval from the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) on September 4.

On the other hand, the company which was shortlisted for the work is not reluctant to take up the work as they say in the past one year the construction cost has gone up.

Speaking to HT, superintending Engineer, road wing, Mukesh Anand said, “The trees were cut on Sunday morning as we want to start work as soon as possible.”

On asking about the contractor's reluctance to take over work, he said, “Till date he (contractor) has not refused, but if he does, we will float tenders again and give work to another company.”

In July last year, the civic body floated tenders for construction of multi-storey parking project and M/s Gautam Builder was shortlisted, but not allotted work.

The project was to start on September 26 last year, but due to lack of environment clearance, the project was hanging fire.

The total cost of the project is `38 crore and it will be completed in the next 18 months.

The multi-level parking lot would provide some respite to parking woes, as the said parking would accommodate 950 vehicles.

The parking lot to be constructed will have a three-storey basement and surface parking. The proposal for the multi-level parking lot at this site was mooted two years ago and the MC's general House approved it on March 30 last year and it was decided that the construction would be done by the municipal corporation.